Xiaonan Tai

Xiaonan Tai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Their research focuses on plant hydraulics, drought impacts, forest mortality, and ecosystem resilience under climate change. Tai leads an NSF-funded project integrating remote sensing and mechanistic modeling to study riparian ecosystems and hydroclimate variability. They have received the NSF CAREER Award to investigate hydrological factors influencing forest resilience.

Research interests include understanding how topography, vegetation structure, and environmental stressors affect ecosystem dynamics. Major contributions explore drought mitigation strategies, urban vegetation resilience, and the role of groundwater in mediating climate impacts. Over 18 peer-reviewed articles highlight their work in environmental science, ecology, and remote sensing.

Key achievements include linking remotely sensed data to continental-scale forest mortality patterns and demonstrating how structurally complex forests reduce drought-related tree mortality. Awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2025) and recognition in NJIT's Nexus of Excellence Awards (2024).

Current grants include an active NSF project (2018–2025) totaling over $1M. Media highlights include coverage of their NSF CAREER Award and contributions to urban vegetation research in national outlets.